This super easy Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Rice is chock full of flavor and texture and cheesy, ranch-flavored goodness! A delicious keto chicken dinner your family will request over and over again!
I’m going to be honest and confess that while the chicken is delicious – crispy skin, tender juicy meat, yada, yada, yada… it’s the cheesy ranch cauliflower rice that is the star of this dish.
Hard to believe I know. But it’s true! Instead of calling this keto cheesy ranch chicken and rice, I probably should have called it keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice – with some chicken. 😂
The top of this keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice gets a little crunchy and chewy, while the interior is fluffy and cheesy and has a noticeable ranch flavor. It’s sublimely delicious – keto comfort food in the extreme.
So much so that I actually scraped all of the leftover cauliflower rice off of the bottoms of the baked chicken pieces in the fridge and warmed it up for lunch the next day without even bothering to add the chicken.
I eventually ate the chicken too, but was legit sad when the ranch cauliflower rice was all gone.
And don’t get me wrong, the crispy ranch chicken was also amazing – just not as amazing as that cheesy ranch cauliflower rice. Which you could absolutely make on its own – but baking the chicken in the rice definitely adds extra flavor so I’m not sure it would be quite as good without the chicken juices soaked right into it.
Now let’s talk briefly about how easy this keto cheesy ranch chicken and rice is…
SO. EASY.
THE END.
Mix, spread, top, bake….
Viola – dinner on the table!
I used regular old Hidden Valley Ranch dressing seasoning for this keto cheesy ranch chicken and rice (not sponsored, just what I used) and it came out great. If you don’t have access to or don’t want to use packaged ranch seasoning, you can make your own ranch seasoning at home.
Times are tough right now, and if you’re like me then easy and inexpensive dinners that nobody is going to gripe about are all that is keeping you going. This keto cheesy ranch cauliflower rice definitely fits the bill and I’m excited for you to try it and report back!
If you’re not on keto, you can absolutely make this with regular rice instead of cauliflower rice. Simply replace the cauliflower with 2 cups of rice, and add 3 3/4 cup of water to the mix as well. Bake as directed, or until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid and the chicken is cooked through.
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Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken and Rice
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
This super easy Keto Cheesy Ranch Chicken & Rice is chock full of flavor and texture and cheesy, ranch-flavored goodness! A delicious keto chicken dinner your family will request over and over again!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 packet ranch dressing seasoning (or 3 tablespoons homemade ranch seasoning)
- 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- 6 cups cauliflower rice
- 6 chicken leg quarters (legs and/or thighs)
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Combine the butter, cream cheese, and 2 tablespoons of the ranch seasoning in a medium sized bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir until well blended.
- Add the cauliflower rice (or rice and water) and shredded cheese and stir well.
- Transfer to a 9 x 13 baking or casserole dish and spread out evenly over the surface of the pan.
- Rub the remaining seasoning over the chicken parts and place them on top of the rice.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil.
- Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.
Notes
Approximate net carbs per serving = 4g.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Keto Chicken Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh + 1 cup rice
- Calories: 545
- Fat: 39g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
Keywords: Keto Chicken and Rice, Keto Cauliflower Rice, Ranch Chicken and Rice
Need more delicious keto chicken recipes to keep your tribe happy and healthy? Here’s a fantastic collection of low carb chicken recipes with something for every taste and budget!
Ellen says
Yum, this recipe is great! And I had leftover too. I used frozen califlower rice (just drain after cooking before putting in pan) and chicken breasts pounded thin as that was what I had on hand. Easy and delicious. Melissa, I’m restarting Keto and your recipes make me feel like I’m not missing out on anything. I so appreciate your cookbooks and your newsletters. Thanks.
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Ellen, your comment made my day!
Kathy says
Melissa,
This is the Broken-Arm-Lady. Thank you so much for reconnecting me. I love your recipes. I wanted you to know that the day before I broke my arm I had made a big batch of your cabbage soup because I love to have it in the freezer for a quick easy, tasty meal, plus this is cabbage time in Florida. It has proved to be an absolute treasure. Yum. Thank you for such wonderful recipes.
Sandy says
Is there a slow cooker version for this recipe?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Sorry, no. You could try it but I really feel that the crispy skin on the chicken is important to the overall dish.
Stephanie says
Hi! I love your recipes!! Is the chicken bone-in or no?
Mellissa Sevigny says
I usually do bone in thighs but boneless will also work!
Julie G says
My hubby dislikes eating chicken on a bone so I will go boneless. I wonder if I should therefore reduce the cooking time and if so, how will that affect the rice?
★★★★★
Morgan Gibson says
So yummy. My kids who don’t like cauliflower rice loved it.
★★★★★
Joyce says
This is really delicious and so easy. I actually used packets of the shelf stable cauli rice and it turned out great. Melissa your recipes always work, and I really appreciate the effort you put into testing them and sharing them!
Tara Jones says
I made this recipe for dinner tonight exactly as written and it was absolutely delicious!! The only difference was that I browned the chicken thighs first because they weren’t completely thawed yet. It took about 30 minutes in the oven. My husband liked it so well he said I should add it to our dinner rotation. So that is a successful recipe indeed!
I agree with the other readers that this way of making the cauliflower rice would make a perfect side dish for any meat. But it was extra good in this recipe because the rice got to absorb those chicken juices. Thank you for such a phenomenal recipe. 😊
★★★★★
Marcia says
Yummy! I added onion and chopped peppers cuz it’s the year of the peppers at my house also added extra parsley, chives dill weed and some ground dried green onion. Oh my GARSH! So good. My 25 year old son raved about it too. Thanks Melissa
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Sounds delicious Marcia – so happy it was a hit with the entire family! Thanks for taking the time to rate and comment on the recipe – I really appreciate it!
Cindy S says
Love the new format! There’s not as much to scroll through! Yay
Mellissa Sevigny says
Less scrolling is always a win in my book – thanks Cindy!
Theresa says
How long would i cook it if the chicken was frozen?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Not sure – I think it would take so long though that the cauliflower would be complete mush and you might still have raw chicken in the middle. Probably best to use at least partially thawed chicken for this recipe.
Vickie says
Made this in the crockpot for dinner tonight!!! Yummy 😋 my husband said this is a keeper!!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yay! So happy to hear it!
Bucko says
Delicious! It is on my weekly list. Can I just omit the chicken for a side dish and cook at the same time and temp?
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
I would think so – may have to add a tablespoon of olive oil and a little chicken broth to get a similar flavor and texture though.
LIZ Y Santiago says
I make this almost every week. This week I am trying it with broccoli rice.
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Great idea!
Dee says
Made this ranch cauliflower as a side dish. It’s great! Going into the weekly side dish rotation. Even my non-low carb hubby liked it! Thank you.
★★★★★
Pam F says
I love your recipes! I would like to use boneless/skinless chicken breasts. Would that change the oven temperature and or baking time?
Shannon says
I’m excited to make this tonight ! I have bags of fresh cauliflower rice, do I need to do anything with it prior to stirring into the mixture ?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Sorry I missed this Shannon – hope you had good results! No you don’t need to do anything to the cauliflower rice before adding to the recipe unless it calls for rinsing on the package maybe – and if you do be sure to dry it out well before using so it’s not soggy after cooking.
Brenda Watt says
This recipe is the bomb! It’s easy, quick and the leftovers are even more tasty. I’m thinking about adding sautéed mushrooms to the “rice” mixture. Thank you for another fabulous recipe!
★★★★★
Laura says
Okay I’ve been making riced/mashed cauliflower for years but never used this herb/spices profile and normally put bacon in it. This is amazingly delicious and has changed the flavor profile so much that it’s almost like having something totally different! I love it and will be making it on repeat. Thank you!
Sonia says
Should I reduce the oven time for boneless chicken/breasts?
Peggy says
I made this as a side dish last night and I’m making it again tonight!!
The only difference I used garlic and herb dry seasoning instead of ranch as that is what I have.
Thank you Melissa for great recipes!!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Two nights in a row! That’s when you know it’s good! 😂🎉
Lore says
Hubby, who normally likes new recipes as much as getting a root canal just went into the kitchen and had seconds! Definitely a keeper, thanks for the recipe :)
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Wow that’s high praise – please tell him that I’m thrilled he enjoyed it so much!
Annette says
This looks and sounds so good. I don’t use packaged ranch dressing because i don’t like the ingredients. Some are not good for us. What spices can i use to make my own. Thank you for all your great recipes.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Just google “ranch dressing mix recipe” and there will be plenty that come up for making your own home-made version.
LuAnna H Harrelson says
I made this last night…OMG!!!!.It was soooo good!! Had leftovers tonight – even better!!!! This goes in the rotation!!!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
So happy to hear it LuAnna! We love this one too!
Karen says
This recipe was great…the chicken turned out really good. But the star of the show is definitely the cheesy ranch cauliflower rice!! It has become a regular side dish – I make it at least once a week. It goes with everything. My fav is having it with steak…way better than any garlic mashed potatoes I’ve ever had. It’s also really good with blackened salmon. I’ve used regular cheddar cheese and have also thrown pepper jack in…seriously, this is the BEST side dish!! Thank you, Melissa, for creating this and sharing with us!!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Karen! I’ve been thinking that I might need to remake this cauliflower with its own post to be used as a side dish with anything!
Sandy Csiha says
Can this be adapted to a
Slow cooker?
★★★★★
Gary says
Oh wow, Mellissa! Another orgasmic recipe! I’ve made your recipe twice now. This last time, I used the convection setting on my oven and used boneless thighs. The cauliflower rice was crispy, golden goodness, fluffy underneath and the thighs dark on the top. I used Trader Joe’s fresh cauliflower crumbles. Steamed it in the microwave and rung it out with a tea towel. I would post a picture if I could. Heard my husband telling his mother about it on the phone the other night…😊 Despite our age she’s just not the happiest when he brags. So, thank YOU Mellissa! ❤️
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
So happy to hear it Gary, thanks for letting me know everyone is loving it!
Laura says
O…M…G…. This was SO good. I made it for 3 adults, one of whom doesn’t like cauliflower, so I “doubled” the recipe and made half with jasmine rice and half with cauliflower rice. I used 3.37 pounds of chicken, 2 bags of 12 oz frozen cauliflower rice (didn’t thaw as suggested), and 2 cups of jasmine rice, which I cooked beforehand (I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be raw or cooked). The jasmine rice got crunchy – which the carb eaters said was delish. The cauliflower rice was beyond amazing. Probably because there were two portions, it took a lot more the time to cook – 1.5 hours. The chicken was a little dry, so maybe next time I would coat with more of the seasoning. But overall, it was REALLY good & I will make again. There was also a lot leftover for lunch tomorrow!
★★★★★
Christine says
This is delicous! I used the hidden valley spicy ranch seasoning and it added a nice little boost to the flavor. I also used Mexican cheese blend and chicken breast instead of thigh or leg. This is a keeper! Thank you so much for this recipe!
★★★★★
Dawn says
You want to make this even better? Line the bottom of the dish with bacon!
Lisa says
Is this about 1 & 1/2 cauliflower heads, riced?
Stephanie W says
Been eyeing this recipe for awhile now and so glad I got the chance to finally make it. Holy moly….so delicious! Moist chicken and perfectly cooked rice. My oldest wasn’t happy I was making this. She hates cauliflower but she ate it all. Loved how it was made in one pan and easy prep for a week night meal. I will be making this often!
★★★★★
Erin says
Delicious! The cheesy cauliflower rice is heaven. Not to mention, this took very little prep time. Thanks for another great one, Melissa!
★★★★★
Kelly says
This is sooo good! Do yourself a favor & make extra of the cauliflower part when you make this recipe (maybe double it)… hubby and I both went back for an extra scoop of the riced cauliflower & ended up with only chicken as the leftovers! The chicken comes out really great too, but undoubtedly the cheesy riced cauliflower is the star. Also, I just set the chicken on the top my first time around & it picked up some flavor but not as much as I thought – next time around I’m going to try pushing it down into the riced cauliflower so there’s more flavor sharing :)
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
So glad you agree that the cauliflower is amazing in this dish! Who knew, right?!?!
Kathy Humann says
So good! So easy! Thank you for these awesome recipes!
★★★★★
Karen says
Have made this twice now in 8 days. So easy to make and is extremely flavorful. Used frozen cauliflower rice and did thaw and drain it as you suggested. That really worked. I now have 3 individual portions frozen for when I do not want to cook.
★★★★★
Lene says
This was delicious and super easy to make! I think the leftovers taste even better. . Added to my weekly rotation! Thank you for all your great recipes!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Lene, so happy you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Jessica says
This recipe is so simple and so delicious!!
★★★★★
Savanna D Creech says
This was great, just like all your recipes. Thanks so much!
★★★★★
Allison says
Delicious!!!! This is AMAZING and easy!! Thank you!
★★★★★
Beth says
I haven’t tried this yet but am sure it is yummy! However, unless they have change their ingredients list in the past year, the Hidden Valley Ranch mix contains MSG which makes this dish NOT clean
Mellissa Sevigny says
I never claimed that this recipe was Clean Keto Beth, and I also provide a link to a recipe for homemade ranch seasoning in the post for those that don’t want to use a store brand.
Karen says
I needed a quick side dish for a Turkey Breast I had already made. I just used frozen riced cauliflower and then made the cheesy “rice” part of this recipe. It was wonderful. Next week I will be making the whole recipe as I can see where the chicken cooking on top of the “rice” will add a whole other dimension of flavor to it. This is a keeper!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Glad you liked it Karen and yes the chicken cooking with the rice takes it to another level that I bet you’ll love even more!
Stephanie says
Where did you get that awesome baking dish? It looks so deep. I have a 9 by 13 baking dish but the sides are much shorter. I would love to add this dish to my kitchen collection!
Izzy F says
This was insanely good. I was going through some insane cravings and this recipe hit the spot and was delicious. I’m so excited to have leftovers. Boyfriend + me will sleep well tonight. I love all your recipes and have your cookbook. This will be added to my keto repertoire!
leezee says
OOOOOooops Sorry I just re read it! 6 cups! is that one bag. I would need to double this recipe!
leezee says
This looks insanely good, can’t wait to try it out! I noticed 18 cups of cauliflower rice, is that typically 2 bags worth?
JACI says
THIS was the recipe that changed the Hub’s mind about cauliflower rice! He even said he liked this “rice” better than “real” rice! Now I’m scouring the web and pinterest to find more cauliflower rice recipes since we both need to go low carb. Thank you for helping me get the hubs to at least set a foot on the low carb train.
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
So happy to hear it! Thank you!
Beata says
After reading about the rice was the real star of this recipe, I frankly thought it was a light hearted joke. I was proven wrong – the rice was indeed the star of this recipe! I didn’t have all of the ingredients for the homemade ranch seasoning so just added some ranch dressing to the cauliflower rice (thawed in the colander), and the chicken was generously rubbed with olive oil and sprinkled with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and dill. Used my homemade mascarpone cheese in place of cream cheese and used shredded mozarella as that was all i had, to complete the rice mixture. Lots of black pepper in the rice too. Baked as directed. OMG! The rice was indeed nicely browned around the edges and you could tell that the delicious chicken fat drippings infused the rice too. Just loved how easy this dish was to put together. My boyfriend who is generally vary of low carb diets overall, gobbled this meal up and wants it again (and so do I!!!) Thank you for a great and tasty inspiration!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for the feedback Beata – I know it’s hard to fathom that the cauliflower rice could be that good, but so glad this recipe made a believer out of you!
Lisa says
That looks delicious!
Renee says
This was good. Love that it was sooooo easy as well. I have one chicken leg and some rice leftover for tomorrow. Yum.
Love your cookbook and use this site often. You are one of my trusted goto Keto experts. Everything is always as advertised and delicious. I made your lemon cream pie (don’t recall exact name) over the quarantine and it was the best pie I’ve had in a long time. Didn’t even have a telling Stevia aftertaste. Thanks so much for all your hard work. You rock!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Renee, really appreciate you!
Krissy says
Hi there! Is there a crockpot version of this recipe?? :)
VICKIE says
I am wondering the same thing….Crockpot version
Ileana says
Hi, I have heard about Cauliflower rice but have never eaten Cauliflower in my life. Does it have a strong flavor or do you mainly taste the dressing and cheese? Is Cauliflower rice something you purchase made? If so, any specific brand/type? Thank you, I look forward to trying this.
Stephanie says
I love cauliflower rice but I love cauliflower. My husband is not a lover of it like me but he will eat it. I do not think it has any overwhelming flavors especially made with all that seasoning. I do buy riced cauliflower from my local grocery store. You can get it fresh or frozen. Or you can buy a head, chop it down to the florets and pulse in a food processor or use the big holes of a cheese grater. There are lots of how to videos/posts that will teach you how.
Diane says
Mine is on the oven now 😊😊😊. I will check back and tell ya what I think. It is only me but I love everything I made from Keto for Life and ibreathiamhungry ❤️❤️
Flor says
Would chicken breasts work with his recipe?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yes but I’d adjust the cook time to just 35 minutes if they are boneless – unless they are really large.
Tori says
Just got a ninja Foodie. Can I make the cheesey “rice” in I’m assuming the pressure cooker option? Can you advise how to do this? Either way… Oven or PC I’m doing this! Thank you Melissa for always delivering great recipes. We are Covid quarantined and I’m starting to cook again. Your blueberry cheese danish coffee cake is down to two pieces. The do not share advice is becoming serious now. So delicious! Next I’m doing cranberry Walnut coffee cake. We are suffering but in style thanks to you!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Not sure how it would work in the foodie since you wouldn’t get any evaporation and if you pressure cook it then it could end up just mush? I recommend the oven way but if you manage to make it successfully in the foodie please let us know! I would kill for some blueberries to make that coffee cake this week! I do have cranberries in the freezer though so you just gave me a great idea – thanks and enjoy!
Virginia Johnson says
Maybe using the air fryer option on the ninja foodie would work
Katie says
Hi there this looks incredible! Just a quick question does the cauliflower rice have to be cooked first before the casserole is put together? Thanks =)
Mellissa Sevigny says
No you can use raw cauliflower rice!
Sarah says
Hello there! I can’t wait to make this recipe! My cauliflower rice is frozen – should I let it thaw before making this recipe? Thank you!
Mellissa Sevigny says
yes definitely thaw and drain so it’s not too watery!
Katie severino says
Do you happen to know if uncooked frozen cauliflower rice would work?
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yes but I’d thaw and drain it first so it doesn’t end up too watery!
Stephanie says
I am lazy about my cauliflower rice and always buy it pre-riced. Would you recommend frozen riced cauliflower or fresh cauliflower? I was wondering if frozen would add to much water and make it mushy. I am making this after my Keto Egg fast transition days. Thanks for making great Keto recipes that the whole family can eat!!!
Stephanie says
Nevermind….I missed the above comment!